No doubt most of you are familiar with the concept of “Paying it Forward.” In Catholic terms, it could be considered just good old-fashioned generosity. We are kind to others and try to help others, whether or not we receive any repayment for it. We trust that God will treat […]
Crafting the Elements of an Event
The best book I’ve ever read on crafting a story is Story: Substance, Structure, Style & The Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee. It was actually recommended to me by a priest a few years ago who happened by my blog and read a post in which I was lamenting […]
How (Not) to Record to Audiobook
Soon after I published The Rose Ring, I decided it would be great to record an audio book. After all, it was something new to try and would be another way to share the story. I have absolutely no experience with recording of any kind, but I figured this would […]
The Value of a Second Pair of Eyes
I recently completed my manuscript of The Rose Ring and sent it to my editor, who is also a very dear friend of mine. She told me she loved the story and I was very excited. It is always a bit scary for me to share something that I have […]
Searching for Inspiration?
As writers, we are creative people, yet even creative people can sometimes find themselves stuck for ideas. What do you do when you are drawing a blank, or suffering from “writer’s block”? As Catholic writers, we know that our creativity is a gift from God, so that should be the […]
The Writing “Sin” of Greed
The November / December 2012 issue of Writers Digest featured an interesting article on “The 7 Deadly Sins of Self-Editing” by Janice Gable Bashman and Kathryn Craft. Using the 7 Deadly Sins as a starting point (and what Catholic writer can’t respond to some good old-fashioned guilt?) , the writers […]
Writing When No One Cares
A friend of mine and I were talking in November about National Novel Writing Month. We are both writers, but more importantly we are homeschooling moms with part-time jobs and lives so busy that sometimes we don’t get the chance to breathe. Every year we have great plans to write […]
What is Your Favorite Bookstore?
A recent edition of “Parade Magazine” included an excerpt from the new book: “My Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read, and Shop”. In that particular excerpt, novelist Richard Russo paid homage to the Alvord and Smith Bookstore which was instrumental in cultivating his life of books. He […]
A Writing Spot of One’s Own
The places where writers write can almost take on a mythological quality. After all, this act of inspiration meeting paper (or computer keyboard) does have a quality of mystery to it, and we seek to make it somehow tangible. I live in Western Massachusetts and have the privilege of having […]
Works in Progress – Trudging Through the Middle
I am at that place in my work in progress in which I want to set the manuscript on fire. Usually, this is only a figurative problem. After all, despite my sometimes tumultuous relationship with my laptop, I’m not likely to actually set it on fire. This time, I am […]